Refractory cover for electric furnaces



M. S. CLAWSON. REFRACTORY COVER'FKR ELECTRIC FURNACES. APPucATloN mm nic. 1. 1920.

1 ,4: 1 0,654. Patented Marl 28, 1922.

` 3mm/m www UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MONROE s. oLAwsoN, or UPPER MONTOLAIENEW JERSEY.

REFRYAO'TORY COVER` Foninnno'rltro rURNAoEs.

Specinceon ofttersrafenf.' Patented, Mar. es, 19,22.

Application med December 1, 19240. serial no. 427,545.

. To all whom t may concern.'

This invention relates toy electric fur-A naces and has `for its object the provision of a sectional refractory cover adapted to enclose the crucible or boatVy whereby to retain the heat and to prevent oxidation to a greater or less extent, while the melting is progressing.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character' whichis so con:

Y structed that the sections of the cover may be readily separated Without necessitating touching them, the device being consequently of distinct advantage in preventing exposure.`

of the operator to excessive heat.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this characterv in which the sections of the cover will be Vautomatically retained in contacting relation.

A further Object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in construction, highly efiicient in use, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the vabove and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claime-d and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my complete apparatus showing the upper section of t-he cover removed, and y Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view. y

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have shown a pair of frame members 10 disposed in upright position and arranged in spaced parallel relation. At suitable intervals these Jframes are connected by rods or the like 11 which hold the frames in their proper relation; The upper portions of these frame members constitute tracks 12.

Secured upon the frames near one end thereot' are upright brackets 13 which form supports for the furnace. The furnace comprises heads 1a between which 1s the crucible or boat 15.v The heads are carried by Shanks 16 threaded through the brackets 13and provided with hand wheels 17 by means of which the heads may be brought into clamping engagement vwith the crucible. It is preferable that the heads be hollow and water cooled and for this purpose therheads are provided with pipes 18 and 19. The numeral 20 designates a handle connected with one or each of the heads whereby they may be rotated partially to tilt the crucible for pouring. Connected with the heads are suitable conductors 21 leading fromV source of current illustrated conventionally The crucible cover device comprises a carriage 23 mounted upon flanged wheels 24 traveling on the tracks 12, The carriage includes side members connected by a shaft or rod 25. v The cover proper consists of mating members 26 and 27 formed ofrefractory material and adapted to enclose the crucible. These members 26 and 27 are carried by arms 28 and 29, respectively, which are pivoted in crossed relation upon the shaft 25 andQw-hichhave `their free ends provided with handles 30 and 31, respectively. The handle 30 is weighted or formed as a weight whereby to overbalance the lower cover section and cause it to engage against the bottom portion of the crucible. The handle 31 is lighter than the upper section of the cover so that `the upper section will normally gravitationally engage the crucible.

In the use of the device, assuming that the cover sections 26 and 27 are initially separated by pressing the handles 30 and 31 apart, the carriage Y23 is moved along the tracks until the cover sections are in position to be engaged with the crucible. The cover will then enclose the crucible and not only serve to retain the heat caused by passage of current therethrough but will also serve to prevent, to great extent, the oxidation of the metal being melted. When it is desired to remove the cover it is merely necessary that the operator move the handles 3() and 31 apart and then slide the carriage 23 along the tracks to bringthe cover sections away from the crucible.

From the Jforegoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a very simply constructed cover device which will automatically be maintained normally in clamping position and which is readily removable from engagement with the crucible without any necessity for touching the cover device owing to the provision oli the tonglike ar ane'emenn IVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the forni, construction and arrangement oit the parts as will not depart -from the spirit of the invent-ion or the. scope o'l the subjoined Claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In Combination with an electric furnace including;T a Crucible supported between heads, a cover of refractory material formed in sections adapted to be engaged upon the Crucible whereby to enclose the latter and handles connected with the sections and piroted in crossed relation.

2. In combination with an electric lurnace including a Crucible supported between heads, a Cover of refractory material formed in sections adapted to be engaged upon the Crucible whereby to enclose the latter, and a carriage from which the Cover is supported, the Carriage being movable to bring the Cover toward or away 'from the Crucible.

3. In an electric furnace including heads and a crucible disposed therel'ietween.) a Carriage movable toward and away 'from the Crucible, and a sectional cover for the Crucible formed of refractory material and carried by said Carriage.

4f. In an electric furnace including electrodee and a Crucible disljioecd therebetween, a refractory cover `tor the Crucible compris4 ing` a pair oi mating sections, and pivoted arms carryingr said sections.

5. In an electric Yfurnace includingelectrodes and a Crucible disposed therebetween, a refractory cover for the crucible comprising a pair ol' mating sections, and pirotcd arms carrying` said sections. said arms being` arranged in croseed relation and having their Ylfree ende provided with handles.

6. In an electric 'furnace including electrodes and a Crucible disposed therebetween, a refractory cover 'lor the crucible comprising' a pair oil' mating` sections. and pirotcd arms carrying said sections, said arms being arranged in Crossed relation and having ltheir free ends provided with handles, the handle on the arm carrying the lower section being heavier than the lower section and the handle on the arm oi' the upper section being lighter than the upper section whereby said Sections will normally engage the Crucible.

7. In combination with an electric furnace including a Crucible supported. between heads, a carriage movable toward and away 'from the Crucible, and a cover for 'the crucible 'formed ol refractory material and eupported by the Carriage.

In testimony whereo'll I hereto allix my signature.

MONROE S. CLIVSON. 

